Natalie Nakase put on a late-game coaching master class to lead Valkyries to win
Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries looks on against the Las Vegas Aces late in the first half during Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals at Chase Center on Oct. 7, 2026, in San Francisco. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
With a chance to take a commanding lead in the WNBA semifinals, Natalie Nakase put on a coaching master class in the final seconds of the Valkyries‘ win over the Aces in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Golden State had a 3-point lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter on Veronica Burton’s swish from deep. When Vegas got the ball with under 10 seconds left, Nakase could’ve elected to have the Valkyries play defense and try to stop the Aces.
But as is often debated in basketball circles, many believe teams should foul when they are up by three and the opponent isn’t in the act of shooting. Golden State had committed enough fouls to push Las Vegas into the bonus, so the strategy would prolong the game – but take away any potential game-tying shot.
The Valkyries did that on three straight possessions in the waning seconds of the game. Gabby Williams fouled Chelsea Gray with 9.2 seconds left. Gray made both free throws to cut it to one before Vegas quickly fouled Kayla Thornton, who nailed both foul shots to push the lead back to three. The process repeated itself again – Jackie Young hit both shots with seven seconds left, only for Burton to go 2-for-2 on the other end with 6.4 seconds left.
With the lead back to three, Golden State committed a third foul, sending Young to the line a second time. Young made her first and intentionally missed her second. Gray got the rebound and tried to take a game-tying layup, but her shot was blocked by Kiah Stokes to secure the Valkyries win.
Nakase admitted after the game that the coaching staff had already decided on this strategy if it were needed before the game, stating the team "wanted to be a little bit more in control" in the late-game scenarios. It’s hard not to see why it was on their mind.
A week ago, the Valkyries led Game 2 of the first-round series against the Wings by three late. But Golden State didn’t foul and got burned, as Dallas star Arike Ogunbowale hit a circus shot from deep to tie the game. The Wings eventually won in overtime.
Two nights later in a winner-take-all Game 3, Nakase switched up her strategy. The Valkyries fouled Alysha Clark with 7.7 seconds left. When Clark missed one of two free throws, Williams put the game to bed with two made foul shots and Golden State won by four to advance to the semifinals.
Now, with a third "foul up three" situation in eight days, Nakase not only stuck to the strategy but tripled down on it – and it worked, offensive rebound notwithstanding.
It may not make for the most aesthetically pleasing way to finish basketball games, but given Nakase has her Valkyries one win away from a trip to the WNBA Finals in the franchise’s second year of play, no one in Ballhalla was complaining about the finish after the game.
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This article originally published at Natalie Nakase put on a late-game coaching master class to lead Valkyries to win.
Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.